Queen Elizabeth's security 'deeply concerned' about potential risk posed by royal staff's use of Tinder and Grindr

Over 800 of Her Majesty’s staff occupy live-in quarters at St James's Palace and the Royal Mews, where they have permission to sign in vetted visitors

David Cameron's comment that the Queen “purred” was picked up by media microphones as he spoke to Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday (Getty)

Police responsible for Queen Elizabeth II’s safety are reportedly perturbed by the number of overnight guests staying at St James’s Palace because royal staff members have increased their use of dating apps like Tinder and Grindr.

Over 800 of Her Majesty’s staff occupy live-in quarters at the Palace and the Royal Mews, where they have permission to sign in a certain number of guests.

But police are said to be “deeply concerned” by the rising amount of unvetted visitors staying overnight at the quarters since the rise in popularity of dating apps.

A royal source reportedly told the Daily Mail: “There are real and serious security concerns at Buckingham Palace about members of staff use of dating apps such as Tinder.

“The palace police are particularly unhappy about the number of guests of servants staying overnight, especially when they may have only just met on Tinder.

“It is a security nightmare, especially in the current climate. The guests are allowed to stay at St James’s Palace but some have complained that when they leave they get asked ‘a million questions’ by officers. Police say they are only doing their job.”

However, the issue of unauthorised visitors is hardly a new one.

“Historically this has always been a problem, even when I was in charge way before the introduction of these so-called dating apps,” Chief Superintendent Dai Davies, a former head of royal protection, explained.

“If members of staff lived in certain quarters such as the Royal Mews and Kensington Palace, which have both single sex and married quarters, they were, and I presume still are, permitted to bring back unvetted guests.

“Often these guests were total strangers. It makes a complete mockery of the security structure, unfortunately.”

A spokesperson for the Palace is yet to respond to request for comment.